Yvonne M. Agazarian, EdD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for her pioneering work in developing a theory of living human systems and its systems-centered practice, and for training thousands of practitioners worldwide.
Her comprehensive theory of living human systems, applicable to any living human system, operationally defines each construct and has developed methods and techniques that put the theory into practice. Her systems-centered method of functional subgrouping for resolving conflicts and lowering scapegoating is widely adopted in the group therapy field. Her model of role, goal and context is used by organizational consultants. A private practitioner, she embodies the clinician-scholar, with edited, authored or co-authored books, chapters and peer-reviewed articles. With colleagues, she founded the Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute that was recognized with the National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists' Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education and Training in the Field of Group Psychotherapy. She has taught group therapists and organizational consultants in the USA, Europe and Asia. She is noted for her theoretical brilliance and extraordinary attunement and presence with clients, trainees and colleagues.